Cenotes and Yucatecan Culture

Cenotes can be found throughout the world, but nowhere do they take on as much importance as they do in the Yucatan Peninsula. There are thousands of these cenotes scattered across the landside, though less than 2000 have been registered and documented by authorities. For much of the world, for the majority of human history, cenotes have been a place of danger or slight intrigue; after all, they are sinkholes. In the Yucatan, though, they took on a very special significance for the Maya and those who followed after them.

The Yucatan is a porous, limestone outcrop jutting into the azure Caribbean Sea. Unlike the surrounding areas, the Yucatan has no visible rivers. The porous rock absorbs all fresh water, transforming streams, rivers and creeks into underground waterways and pools. Cenotes acted as colossal cisterns or rain barrels for the Maya. They were the primary source of drinking water for all of the area's residents and remain used to this day for that purpose. Cenotes were much more than that to the ancients, though. Like other civilizations, both before and after, the Maya held water sacred and the cenotes were part of the celestial world because of the vital water that they contained. They were also considered the gates to the underworld, through which souls and mortals could pass if they dared.

Today, cenotes are little better understood. There is unique plant and animal life that lives only within certain cenotes or through connecting underground waterways that join several cenotes together. While the cenotes still serve as a source of water for some of the population, they have become a tourist attraction in their own right, offering caving and diving experiences like no other area of the world. There are many different cenotes to visit, but a few of them are more popular than others. If you decide that a trip to the underworld sounds like fun, it is best to explore the cenotes with a group of others in a well known location.

Just to the north of Merida, the cenote Xcalah offers tourists and locals amazing opportunities. This cenote is ground level, though it is over 140 feet deep at one end. Located close to Merida, it offers easy access to the amazing world of cenotes and underground exploration.

Ik Kil is another popular cenote. It is located in Park Ik Kil, less than two miles from the walls of Chichen Itza. This is a well type cenote, which can be descended by a stairway that runs around the side of the well. This cenote offers fantastic swimming and diving opportunities, with beautiful waterfalls surrounding the well.

There are many other cenotes to tempt you with their exploratory opportunities. Before you enter, stop a moment and reflect on the role these amazing, beautiful natural creations have played in the history of the area's civilizations. These remarkable natural wells offer you the opportunity to explore a pristine environment and visit with exotic species of marine and animal life that you will not find anywhere else.